LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Wilkes University men's cross country team previewed the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional course Saturday as the Colonels competed at the Lock Haven University Invitational at the West Branch Cross Country Course at the Stern Athletic Complex. Teams from across Division I, II and III competed in the race with Wilkes placing 28th of 34 teams but seeing six of its seven runners set personal best times.

First year runner Caleb Edwards (Grahamsville, NY/Tri-Valley Central) was the top finisher for Wilkes as he crossed the line with the third fastest 8k time for the program since it returned in 2008.

Results

The Colonels placed 28th with 802 team points from their five scoring runners. A total of 290 runners were in the Crimson 8k.

Edwards paced the Colonels with a time of 27:13.2 as he finished in 117th place overall. That 8k time was only topped twice by Franco Balbuena for the Colonels since 2008. Conner Anascavage (Shamokin, PA/Shamokin) was next across the finish line for Wilkes with a time of 28:12.0, his personal best time that placed him 183rd. Zachary Spurrier (Frederick, MD/Middletown) also ran a career best time of 28.23.8 as he finished 194th. Gabe Krem (Macungie, PA/Emmaus) followed suit with a personal best time of 30:21.3 as he was 249th. Brandon Whitman (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) rounded out the Colonels who scored in the team event as the senior ran his career best time of 30:25.8, placing in 253rd.

Isaiah Rogers-Keeney (Middletown, PA/Middletown Area) (31:30.5, 267th) and Dustin Edsall (Honesdale, PA/Honesdale) (31:32.1, 268th) rounded out the Colonels competitors with Rogers-Keeney setting his new personal best as well.

Division I Cornell University placed first overall with 20 team points. Dickinson College was the top Division III program as they placed third with 137 team points. Perry Mackinnon of Cornell was the top finisher with a time of 24:15.1.

Wilkes is off the next two weekends before returning to the course to host the Blue & Gold Invitational for the first time ever at the Forty Fort Sports Complex on Friday, October 14 at 4:30 p.m.